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witness box
DCHP-2 (Jun 2013)
Spelling variants:witness-box
n. — Law
an enclosed area in a courtroom where a witness sits or stands to gives testimony.
Type: 2. Preservation — The term witness box is used in the UK and other Commonwealth countries (see Chart 1) and is a preservation from British legal usage. In the US, however, the area for the witnesses is generally called the "witness stand" (see Chart 2) or simply the "stand" (see OED-3, s.v. "witness-box" & "witness-stand").
See also COD-2, which labels the term "Brit. & Cdn. (also esp. N Amer. witness stand) and specifies the term witness box as official use in Canadian courts. As Chart 2 shows, "witness stand" is predominantly American.
See also COD-2, which labels the term "Brit. & Cdn. (also esp. N Amer. witness stand) and specifies the term witness box as official use in Canadian courts. As Chart 2 shows, "witness stand" is predominantly American.
The relatively small difference between .ca and US domains would not warrant the declaration of a Type 2 Canadianism if the term were not the official term in Canada. The term is obviously used in the US as well (see Chart 1).
Quotations
1817
One of those witnesses being placed in the box in which witnesses are usually placed, Mr. Porteous asked him whether he knew the parties in the cause, the Honorable Judge then sitting and holding that Court, immediately interrupted Mr. Porteous and said to him in a tone of great irritation "why do you "[sic!] put that question to the witness, it is absurd, it is an absurdity."]
1818
Mr. Sherwood.-I have to move the Court that the witnesses on the part of the Crown may be directed to withdraw. Ours are all out of Court I believe, they have been ordered to keep below till they are called to the witness box.
1824
Indeed, I would consider this as a plan preferable far to the mode of one side questioning, and the other answering, as is the practice in our Courts of Justice at present. It would inspire a witness with that due degree of confidence, necessary to elicit the truth, and obviate all that flutter and confusion, which the changes of colours, fidgiting attitude, and quivering lip so clearly indicate, and which are often seen, sometimes turned to particular advantage, in the witness-box.
1906
Lennox was put in the witness box in the police court by T. C. Robinette, K.C., yesterday afternoon. Faskin was also there representing him.
1943
In the witness box Neiser explained the accident. He found a .22 calibre shell in his pocket and loaded the rifle intending to shoot at a mark in the yard.
1977
It is true that the possibility exists that a witness will find himself in conflict between his obligation to reply to questions and his obligation to oaths of secrecy, but this danger exists every time a member of the RCMP enters the witness box of common law courts.
1984
During his eight days in the witness box, Mr. Harrison said his legal problems were the result of his excessive loyalty to people who had done little to deserve it.
1999
Doug Holtam -- his face often flushed red, sometimes shaking his head at the evidence -- sat in the witness box, his back to the two families divided over allegations of his conduct.
2013
As she sobbed in the witness box, Mary Leavitt told the court that MacKenzie said, "Four (expletive) years and I can't take it anymore. I'm going to kill him."
References
- COD-2
- OED-3
Images
Chart 1: Internet Domain Search, 19 Oct. 2012
